TOSHINORI KONDO 近藤 等則 — Kondo • IMA : Tokyo Rose (review)

TOSHINORI KONDO 近藤 等則 — Kondo • IMA : Tokyo Rose album cover Album · 1990 · Eclectic Fusion Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
snobb
Trumpeter Toshinori Kondo, who passed away just three years ago, was for a few decades one of Japan's left-field experimental jazz/fusion key figures. While still being a student in Japan, he played with avant-garde jazz master pianist Yosuke Yamashita. In 1978 Kondo moved to New York where played with John Zorn and Fred Frith among others. On his return to Japan, Kondo founded his own band, Kondo IMA in 1984. His band's music combined funk-metal, avant-garde jazz, industrial grooves and DJ turntablism. Being Kondo's most commercially successful project ever, the band disbanded when Kondo left Japan for Amsterdam, where he became a member of Peter Brötzmann's Die Like a Dog group, and played with avant-garde jazz guitarist Derek Bailey among others.

"Tokyo Rose" is a IMA's seventh album. Being a collective of flexible line-up, IMA, on here, are a long way from Bill Laswell-produced dub-influenced early music with back-up vocalists and moving towards aggressive industrial metal-funk with Kondo, who switched to electric trumpet, two electric bassists and guest DJ and electric violinist among others.

The core band contains capable electric guitarist (originally the bassist of Japanese punk band from late 70s, Friction) Яeck, who plays excellent long bluesy solos over jumping repetitive hyperactive drummer's beat. Besides of playing trumpet, Kondo sings a lot (something between a rap and brutal Japanese avant-rock vocal (or Akira Sakata vocalize) tradition).

In general, the album's music sounds like a Japanese version of the Red Hot Chilly Peppers and Ministry crossover, with partially removed heaviness and melodies, and a bigger accent on groove and lots of avant-garde jazz improvs and electric noises everywhere. The big surprise is being punk/industrial infected(two most monotonous and repetitive genres around), the music itself is extremely variable, there are not a two same moments presented all album long. Experienced jazz drummer Hideo Yamaki (who played with John Zorn, Bill Laswell and Robert Palmer among others) is very much responsible for that.

Multilayered and very refreshing album, not for everyone's taste though.
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